It is better to stop the plant: energy import from the EU to Ukraine has shown unprofitability

In November, the Ukrainian government reduced the limit of the energy import, at which enterprises are not turned off, by 60%. However, even this did not stimulate the country's business to increase purchases in November. Ukrainian trader D. Trading reports that in the last month it was profitable to buy electricity abroad only 20% of the hours.

"This month, imports, taking into account all expenses, were economically feasible only in 20% of hours from Hungary (145 hours), Romania (142 hours) and Slovakia (136 hours). Imports from Poland were expedient only in 35% of all hours (254 hours)," D. Trading reports in its monthly review.

As reported by EADaily, in November, electricity prices in Eastern Europe rose significantly and imports fell to the lowest level.

"In the first decade of November, imports fell from an initial level of more than 10 million kWh per day to 1-3 million kWh per day. In European countries, prices on spot markets have increased significantly at this time due to the almost complete absence of renewable energy production and an increase in consumption to the maximum level. So, only in Hungary, consumption at the beginning of the month was more than 10% higher than normal for this period of time," the trader reports. He notes that the planned repairs at the Kozloduy NPP power unit in Bulgaria have further worsened the situation with the energy balance of the countries of South-Eastern Europe.

"Imports continued to remain at a very low level until November 17, when there was a massive shelling of the energy infrastructure. Restrictions on industrial consumers have increased business demand for imported electricity. Due to extremely high prices in European countries, businesses did not use the import quota at the highest possible level, so import growth in the last decade of November amounted to only about 10 million kWh per day," D. Trading reported.

As reported by EADaily, in November Hungary ceased to be the main supplier of electricity to Ukraine. Compared to the maximum purchases in June and July, exports from Hungary by Ukraine fell 9-9.5 times. The possible power from the EU of 1.7 GW per hour was used only by 13.5%.

The situation with the price of electricity in the countries bordering Ukraine The EU is aggravated by the imperfect interconnector system with Western European countries, high gas prices and the fact that Ukrainian purchases themselves further increase the deficit during peak hours.

"It is expected that the Ukrainian factor, according to market estimates, will further burden the system of South-Eastern Europe and electricity prices in winter due to increased needs," the Greek Kathemirini wrote.